New homeless-veterans accommodation named in honour of Sgt Matthew Locke

More homeless West Australian veterans were warmly welcomed to their new home yesterday after Hancock Prospecting opened the second building of refurbished apartments as part of the $200 million commitment from Gina Rinehart to help homeless war heroes.  

Mrs Rinehart confirmed the opening of the second residential complex dedicated for veterans in the peaceful riverside suburb of South Perth. 

The complex will be named the ‘Sergeant Matthew Locke MG Apartments’ in honour of the SAS hero who was tragically killed in action on 25 October 2007 while on a patrol in Uruzgan Province, southern Afghanistan. 

Sergeant Locke’s widow, Leigh, and son, Keegan, helped officially open the South Perth accommodation, which has already welcomed multiple veterans and their families. 

Several of Sergeant Locke’s former SAS teammates also attended the opening. 

Air Force Association WA Limited will manage the ongoing operations of the facility. 

The property is the second of its kind to open in little more than a month under Hancock Prospecting’s $200 million commitment to help get a roof over the head of Australia’s approximate 6000 homeless veterans. 

The first, named ‘Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG Beach Houses’, opened in Scarborough in June and has already helped many veterans find safety and comfort, and a place they can call home. 

This builds further on Mrs Rinehart’s legacy of providing emergency veteran accommodation in her home state, with Sir Valston Hancock House, a dedicated veteran housing complex of refurbished units, also in South Perth, having provided more than 3500 nights of accommodation since opening in September 2024. 

Named after her uncle, Air Marshal Sir Valston Eldridge Hancock, KBE, CB, DFC, who during World War II held many roles before being appointed Chief of Air Staff from 1961 to 1965, the building provides comfort and safety for struggling veterans and their families.  

Mrs Rinehart is a renowned long-time backer of Australian veterans through generous support to SASR, Soldier On, the SAS Resources Trust, Commando Welfare Trust, Legacy, RSL WA and more

“Our veterans – some of our finest and most patriotic Australians – have sacrificed and even risked their all for our safety – like the greatly missed Sergeant Locke, a Special Air Service hero,” Mrs Rinehart said.

“I’m pleased to be able to provide more accommodation for those veterans who require it and their families, and especially pleased, that the widow of Sergeant Locke has agreed to have this building named to honour her husband.

“As Mrs Leigh Locke says, her husband always helped others, and she believes he would like to know, there is now this building named in his honour, which will continue to help the lives of many fine veterans. 

“We know after welcoming dozens of veterans already to the Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG Beach Houses in Scarborough, the wonderful difference such accommodation and a place to call home has made in their lives, and no doubt these newly refurbished South Perth residences will make a much-needed difference to so many veterans. 
 
“As I have previously stated, it is a national disgrace that we leave approximately 6000 veterans without a roof over their head.

“I believe it is disgraceful that federal governments are too arrogant to listen, or care, and do not act to open the doors of unused or scarcely used barracks, and other unused defence facilities, to our veterans in need.

“I hope other veteran organisations partially funded by the government, go beyond their “let’s not rock the boat” approach, and publicly call for the immediate opening of these defence facilities, for our veterans suffering outside in the cold of winter.

“Some argue, but the barracks would need to be refurbished. Well, many of our vets learn basic carpentry, plumbing and even electrical skills, and others without such skills, could paint and clean.

“So let’s not be stopped when such arguments are raised, our veterans could all be brought in now from the awful winter, and with the government’s action to allow it, should be.

“Many struggling veterans could afford their own rentals or save towards their own homes if the government committed to something I have long called for – that being, allowing veterans who’ve served our country, to choose to work as much as they want, simply paying tax on their earnings like any other Australian without jeopardising their hard-earned and very well-deserved pensions. 

“This would be a win-win-win and help many veterans, should they choose to work, get through the misery of poverty.

“Again, I hope the veteran organisations do much, much more publicly to help bring this to a prompt reality.”

Keegan Locke said he sincerely thanked Mrs Gina Rinehart for her extraordinary generosity.

“Having this home named after my father, Matthew Locke MG, is a profound honour for our family, and it means his legacy will continue to serve those who’ve worn the uniform. 

“It’s also a reminder of where we are right now.

“Too many veterans are still falling through the cracks and when a private citizen has to step in and do what should already be guaranteed – that’s telling.

“Mrs Rinehart saw a need and acted – that’s leadership.

“And on behalf of my family, thank you for doing something that will change lives, and for keeping Dad’s legacy alive in the most practical way.”

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